Acclaimed Artist to Speak at Ellsworth Church

Local artist and humanitarian activist, Robert Shetterly, will be speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth at 121 Bucksport Rd, Ellsworth, on July 1, 2018, from 10:30 – 11:30. A potluck lunch will follow. This presentation is free to the public.

Shetterly may be best known for his portrait series entitled Americans Who Tell the Truth. These portraits have been painted to honor work done by activists combatting forms of injustice that include destroying the environment, changing climate, genocide, and systematic racism throughout the world. Shetterly has said, “The fantasy was that I could, by painting the portraits of these courageous people, evoke their spirits in some way to help us now.”

Education is another system that Shetterly embraces. He has questioned, “Whose interests are served by keeping young people ignorant of their own history, unaware of the importance of citizenship and unaware of the inspiring role models from the past and present who could help solve our most pressing problems?” Shetterly believes that “if they (students) are not taught to be engaged citizens using true history and models of courageous citizenship, we will lose our democracy.”

Robert Shetterly is an activist who promotes awareness of our current times, the sense of community necessary to resolve problems, and the information necessary to make informed decisions and efforts leading to solutions.